Abhinav Iyer’s stellar performance at the 2024 USOP Hai Phong series culminated in a commendable 3rd-place finish in Event #12: VND 120 Million Superstar Challenge.
This achievement proved once again why Iyer is placed among poker’s elite in India; his journey to another final table was a testament to his skill, resilience, and unwavering determination.
The USOP Hai Phong Superstar Challenge was a high-stakes tournament that attracted some world-renowned poker players. The hefty buy-in created an atmosphere of intense competition. Despite facing off against seasoned veterans, our Indian WSOP bracelet winner remained undaunted, showcasing his exceptional strategic prowess and tactical manoeuvres throughout the tournament.
On the final day of the event, Iyer entered the battlefield with the second-largest chip stack among the remaining nine players. This dominant position provided Iyer with a significant advantage, allowing him to dictate the pace of the game and exert pressure on his opponents. However, the unpredictable nature of poker soon unfolded as Iyer encountered a series of setbacks.
At one point, Iyer’s chip stack dwindled, plummeting him to the shortest position at the table with a single BB left, after losing KK to the eventual winner Ryan Plant’s AK. Plant hit an Ace on the turn and after a while, Iyer was eliminated in 3rd place for a prize of VND 965 Million, translating to approximately ₹32.98 Lakh. Iyer’s performance not only enriched his own bankroll but also served as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring Indian poker players.
Also Read: USOP Hai Phong 2024 Winners List
Some of the other Indian players at the venue were railing Iyer, and even they will be inspired to bring back a trophy or two from this series in Hai Phong, Vietnam. While Iyer may not have secured the coveted championship title, his finish holds immense significance, taking his total live tournament winnings to nearly $1.9 million now.
Eventually, Plant took home the top prize of VND 2,180,000,000 after beating Nguyen Van Binh in a heads-up. This was just another deep run for Abhinav Iyer, and we expect to hear more from him throughout the series in Hai Phong. The series has been a success, and the organizers should be lauded for their ability to pull off such a grand event given the circumstances created by typhoon Yagi.
Number | Name | Payout |
1 | Ryan Plant | VND 2,180,000,000 |
2 | Nguyen Van Binh | VND 1,454,000,000 |
3 | Abhinav Iyer | VND 965,000,000 |
4 | Max Buschmann | VND 670,000,000 |
5 | Chen Yuanxi | VND 480,000,000 |
6 | Do Xuan Huan | VND 360,000,000 |
7 | Chang Tao Wei | VND 295,000,000 |
8 | Nguyen Huu Dung | VND 265,000,000 |
9 | Yang Xudong | VND 250,000,000 |
As for Plant, this turned out to be the biggest live cash in the English poker player’s career so far. Another Indian who did well in another tournament over the weekend was Siddharth Karia, who ended 17th in the USOP Hai Phong Kick-Off event, taking home VND 69,200,000 ($2,800) in prize money.
Several events are taking place daily at the Dream Dragon Resort in Vietnam. The 13-day series is likely to see some more successes for Indian players, and you can stay tuned to GutshotMagazine.com for all updates on the same.
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Roy D’Silva is a published author and has covered various beats in his decade-long experience, including Bollywood, OTT and now poker. An avid cyclist and documentary buff, Roy’s looking to be right, front, and center of that one big story in the poker world.
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